Rising exhibition opens in Ballina

Brigadier James Connolly, grandson of 1916 Proclamation signatory James Connolly at the opening of Ballina’s Jackie Clarke Collection 1916 exhibition pictured with, from left: Jackie Clarke Collection’s Anne Marie Forbes and Edel Golden, Mayo County Librarian Austin Vaughan, Sinead McCoole; Cllr Michael Holmes, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council; Helen Litton, grandniece of Kathleen and Tom Clarke; Cllr Gerry Ginty, Chairman of the Ballina Municipal District; Peter Hynes, CEO, Mayo County Council; Dara Calleary, TD, and Cllr Gerry Murray. Pic: Henry Wills.

Anne-Marie Flynn

A large attendance packed into the courtyard of the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina last Wednesday evening for the public launch of ‘Rising! – An Exhibition of the 1916 Rising’. The event marked the beginning of Mayo’s 1916 Easter Rising commemorations and in attendance were Helen Litton, the grand-niece of Edward Daly, and James (Seamus) Lenin Maidment, the grandson of signatory James Connolly and a number of other speakers and local dignitaries. The exhibition, representing what has been described at the largest and most important collection of items related to the 1916 rising outside the capital was officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Michael Holmes.
Speaking at the launch, Mayo County Manager Peter Hynes described the exhibition as ‘an absolute, utter joy’, and referred to the emphasis that had been placed on community engagement in developing the Mayo’s 1916 commemoration programme. The supporting of communities to hold their own events in this programme, he said, complements the nationwide plan which is based on themes of understanding, reconciliation and reaching out the Irish diaspora. It also, he said contributed towards the aims of the local authority to make Mayo a sustainable, inclusive, prosperous and proud county.
Highlights of the event included the reading aloud of a portion of the 1916 Proclamation by James Lenin Maidment, referred to afterwards by Jackie Clarke Collection Manager Edel Golden as ‘a little moment of history’, and the reading of WB Yeats’ poem, ‘1916’ by staff member Martina Neary in a touching gesture to mark the first anniversary of the death of Anne Clarke, wife of Jackie. Other speakers included Helen Litton, grand-niece of Edward Daly, the youngest revolutionary to be executed in 1916, Sinead McCoole of the Jackie Clarke Collection, who spoke of her heavy involvement in the development of the national programme, and Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, Councillor Gerry Ginty. Councillor Ginty paid tribute Jackie Clarke, his son Peter and sister Loretta and the people of Mayo – “a proud people”. Referring to James Connolly as a man of conscience and principle, he called on newly elected TDs to reflect these ideal of the men of 1916 and to make the eradication of homelessness a priority.

Tribute
Manager Edel Golden paid tribute to the local businesses who contributed to the success of the event, and indeed the success of the Collection as a whole. The event was complemented by music from local traditional music group the Bofield Céilí Band, refreshments provided by Ballina Manor Hotel and the attendance of the costumed Humbert Heritage Group.
Within the exhibition, an area is devoted to each signatory of the Proclamation, containing personal artefacts and objects. Highlights include a letter written by Padraig Pearse, Thomas Clarke’s bible, newspapers from the era, medals and a number of rare photographs. The exhibition also includes a gripping audio-visual presentation of the Easter Rising, using the newspapers of the time to present the unfolding story. The role of women is also celebrated, and at the heart of the exhibition is Jackie Clarke’s ‘Holy Grail’, an original 1916 Proclamation, stored in the former bank vault and narrated by actor Stephen Rea. A rare 1917 Proclamation is also on display.
The Jackie Clarke Collection itself is rapidly becoming one of the most highly-regarded and important tourist attractions in the country, representing the most important collection of Irish historical material in public hands. Located in the spacious and welcoming former Provincial Bank building in the heart of Ballina, it contains treasures such as letters from Michael Collins, Michael Davitt and O’Donovan Rossa, as well as books, posters, pamphlets, maps and personal items from the leaders of the 1916 Rising, making it an ideal location to get up close and personal with Irish history in this significant year.